Back-band buckle, &amp;c.



* L.- w. SWAFFORD.

BACK BAND BUCKLE, m.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 26. 19-16..

Patented July 17, 1917.

buckle,

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LEVI W. SWAFFORD, OF MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH TO LOUIS BROWN, ONE-FOURTH TO HERMAN BROWN, AND 0NE-FOURTH TO SAMUEL J'. ELLIS,

ALL OF MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE.

BACK-BAND BUCKLE, 81cc.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 17, 1917.

Application filed April 22, 1916. Serial No. 92,982.

' description thereof.

The object of my invention is to provide improvements in buckle construction and the v manner of attaching the same to bands, or belts, and more particularly to provide such improvements in their adaptation to harness back bands, to the end that their manufacture may be easy and cheap, the connection between buckle and band may be a secure one and yet admitting easy manipulation for connection and disconnection of buckle and band, and which will result in a minimum of wear of the band, or strap, and freedom from dangerof injury to the animal, and to this end my invention consists in the construction substantially as hereinafter specified and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a back band buckle construction embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section thereof;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a different form embodying'my invention;

Fig. t is a side elevation thereof.

In the embodiment of my invention shown in the drawings which is a back band the buckle comprises a plate-like part, or member 10, which as shown, may be substantially rectangular in form, a hook 11 depending from the lower end of the body member 10 and made integral therewith, and the attaching means which consists of a horizontally extending tubular, or hollow offset 12 from the buckle body 10 on the outer side thereof, whose interior opens to the back of the buckle body through a slit 13 narrower than the internal diameter of said offset so that when a portion of the band, or belt 14: is inserted through said slit, and a pin either wood or metal (wood preferred) 15 is passed through the loop 16 formed by the portion of the band within the offset, a secure connection will be made between the buckle and the band for by reason of the diameter of the pin and the thickness of the portion of the band passing through the slit it is impossible to draw the loop out through the slit. Thus a connec- 131011 18 provided whichvis of the utmost simplic ty, and which enables the very easy and rapid connection and disconnection of buckle and band, while at the same time it is secure and strong and free from any prongs or points that penetrate the band and tear and fray the same. Since the constructlon is one that admits of the useof sheet metal the cost of manufacture is eX- ceedingly small.

The chain-engaging hook 11 may have the slmple form illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, wh ch, however, renders desirable a latch sprlng 17, or it may have the form shown 1n Flgs. 1 and 2 which renders a spring unnecessary, and thus the entire buckle, eX- cept the pin 15, may be made of one piece. The hook, as shown in Fig. 1, has its upper free end 18 downturned and cut away, or beveled on one side and extended obliquely so as to clear the downturned free end of the hook from the buckle body 10 sufficiently to allow one side of the trace chain link to pass downward between the buckle body and the hook, while the other side of the link passes down outside the hook. By the hook construction described, the tip end of the hook lies in a plane to one side of the side edge of the buckle body, and in rear of the outer face thereof so as in effect to produce a closed loop which prevents the accidental disengagement of chain link and hook, and yet their separation can easily be effected when desired.

The buckle body 10 is narrower than the band 14 so that at each side of the buckle there is a free edge portion of the band which tends to curl, or roll around the adjacent edge of the buckle and thus provides a cushion, or soft protecting surface at each side of the buckle that keeps it out of contact with the flesh of the animal and avoids breaking the skin, or cutting into the flesh, or wearing off the hair. It will be observed no metal comes in contact with the side of the animal.

The side of the buckle next to the band is given a bent, or convex form which causes the buckle at each side .of the attaching means to incline away from the side of the band and thus the points of contact of buckle and band are so reduced-that Wear of the band is avoided.

While in the drawing the plate shown is a solid plate, of course, openings for lightenmg it, or enhancing its appearance may be provided. By the term plate, therefore, I

do not necessarily restrict myself to what is strictly a plate. 7 7

Having thus described my invention what elalm is r h 1. A buckle comprising a body having a hollow'oflset on one side which communicates with a slit opening to the opposite side, and a band-engaging pin in said offset. 2. A buckle and a band, the buckle being provided with means for connecting the body of the buckle to the band, the buckle from side to side being narrower than the band, and a free edge portion of the band at the side of the buckle projecting beyond such side and-forming a cushion.

3. A buckle and a band, the buckle being provided with means for connecting the body of the buckle to the band intermediate the'top and'bottom of the buckle, and the cates with a slit open to the opposite side I of the buckle, and a pin engaging a looped portion of the band within said offset, the buckle body from said ofiset inclining away from the band.

5. A buckle having band attaching means,

and a hook having a portion that extends upwardly and spaced away from the buckle, then extends inwardly toward the buckle and downwardly to one side of an edge thereof and terminates in a free end.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 29th day of February 1916.

LEVI W. SWAFFORD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, .D. 0. 

